JP2010250500A - Automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To further improve safety of crews when a vehicle collides in an automobile, in which at least a portion of a circuit for driving and a brake mechanism housed in a case from the front of the vehicle and used for driving a motor are successively arranged at the front part of a crew room. <P>SOLUTION: When the collision of a vehicle is detected based on a signal from a pressure sensor 59a or the like, a brake pedal is made to drop so that the brake pedal is separated to a direction where a driver can step on the brake pedal. Thus, even when a power control unit stored in a case 40 is moved to the back part of the vehicle according to the collision of the vehicle, and brought into contact with a brake master cylinder 62, any force is suppressed from acting on the brake pedal from the case 40 or the brake master cylinder 62. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an automobile.

  Conventionally, this type of automobile includes a first bracket disposed on the rear side of a dash panel of a driver's seat, and a second bracket attached to the first bracket and swingable together with a brake pedal. There has been proposed one in which the brake pedal is dropped by mechanically releasing the attachment of the first bracket and the second bracket at the time of a collision (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, in an automobile in which the brake master cylinder is positioned in front of the driver's seat, there is also proposed a safety bracket provided so that the brake master cylinder rotates to the right or left when a vehicle collides (see, for example, Patent Document 2). .

JP 2001-138878 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-16686

  In such an automobile, an electric motor that can output driving power, a driving circuit that is housed in a case and used to drive the electric motor, and can apply braking force to the vehicle at least when the driver depresses the brake pedal. A brake circuit, and a drive circuit and at least a part of the brake mechanism may be arranged in front of the passenger compartment from the front of the vehicle. In this case, the vehicle collides and the drive circuit moves backward. Then, there is a possibility that a force acts on the brake mechanism and the brake pedal in association with the collision.

  The vehicle of the present invention is a vehicle in which a vehicle is collided with a driving circuit that is housed in a case from the front of the vehicle in front of the passenger compartment and used for driving the electric motor, and is arranged in at least a part of the brake mechanism. The main purpose is to increase the safety of passengers.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned main object, the automobile of the present invention has taken the following measures.

The first automobile of the present invention is
An electric motor capable of outputting driving power, a driving circuit housed in a case and used to drive the electric motor, and a brake mechanism capable of applying braking force to the vehicle at least when the driver depresses the brake pedal; A vehicle arranged in the order of at least a part of the driving circuit and the brake mechanism from the front of the vehicle in front of the passenger compartment,
Pedal removal means for removing the brake pedal so that the brake pedal is released in a direction in which the driver can step on the brake pedal when a vehicle collision is detected;
It is characterized by providing.

  In the first automobile of the present invention, the driver circuit and the brake mechanism are arranged in front of the passenger compartment from the front of the vehicle in the order of at least a part of the vehicle, and the driver depresses the brake pedal when a vehicle collision is detected. Remove the brake pedal so that it can be released in the possible direction. As a result, even if the driving circuit housed in the case moves rearward of the vehicle when the vehicle collides and the driving circuit and the brake mechanism come into contact with each other, a force acts on the brake pedal from the driving circuit or the brake mechanism. Can be suppressed, and the safety of passengers can be further increased.

The second automobile of the present invention is
An electric motor capable of outputting driving power, a driving circuit housed in a case and used to drive the electric motor, and a brake mechanism capable of applying braking force to the vehicle at least when the driver depresses the brake pedal; A vehicle arranged in the order of at least a part of the driving circuit and the brake mechanism from the front of the vehicle in front of the passenger compartment,
Provided between the driving circuit and the brake mechanism, when the driving circuit moves rearward of the vehicle, at least a part of the brake mechanism positioned in front of the passenger compartment is moved along with the movement of the driving circuit. Moving direction changing means for moving the vehicle in the lateral direction;
It is characterized by providing.

  In the second automobile of the present invention, the driving circuit disposed in the order of at least a part of the driving circuit and the brake mechanism from the front of the vehicle in front of the passenger compartment and housed in the case in accordance with the collision of the vehicle is the vehicle. When moving backward, at least a part of the brake mechanism located in front of the passenger compartment moves in the lateral direction of the vehicle as the driving circuit moves. As a result, the brake mechanism can be prevented from entering the passenger compartment as compared with the case where the brake mechanism moves to the rear of the vehicle as the driving circuit moves, thereby further improving the safety of the passenger. it can.

It is a block diagram which shows the outline of a structure of the electric vehicle 20 as 1st Example of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline of the passenger compartment front of the electric vehicle 20 of 1st Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline of the passenger compartment front of the electric vehicle 20B of 2nd Example.

  Next, the form for implementing this invention is demonstrated using an Example.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of an electric vehicle 20 as a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the electric vehicle 20 of the first embodiment is configured as a synchronous generator motor, for example, and drives a motor 22 having a rotor connected to drive wheels 28a and 28b via a differential gear 26, and the motor 22. Braking power to the inverter 24 for charging, the chargeable / dischargeable battery 30, the boost converter 32 that converts the voltage of the power from the battery 30 and can be supplied to the inverter 24, and the driving wheels 28a and 28b and the driven wheels (not shown). A brake mechanism 60 for operating the vehicle, an electronic control unit 50 for controlling the entire vehicle, a storage case 40 for integrally storing the inverter 24, the boost converter 32, and the electronic control unit 50 as a power control unit used for driving the motor 22. .

  The brake mechanism 60 includes a brake master cylinder 62 that is pressurized according to the depression of the brake pedal 55, and a braking torque according to the pressure (brake pedaling force) of the brake master cylinder 62 applied to the drive wheels 28a and 28b and a driven wheel (not shown). The hydraulic pressures of the brake wheel cylinders 66a to 66d are adjusted so that they act, and the hydraulic pressures of the brake wheel cylinders 66a to 66d are adjusted so that the braking torque acts on the drive wheels 28a and 28b and the driven wheels (not shown) regardless of the depression of the brake pedal 55. The brake actuator 64 can be used.

  The electronic control unit 50 is configured as a microcomputer centering on a CPU (not shown), and includes a ROM for storing a processing program, a RAM for temporarily storing data, an input / output port, and the like in addition to the CPU. The electronic control unit 50 determines the shift position from the shift position sensor 52 that detects the position of the shift lever 51, the accelerator opening degree from the accelerator pedal position sensor 54 that detects the depression amount of the accelerator pedal 53, and the depression amount of the brake pedal 55. A collision detection unit that detects a vehicle collision based on information from a brake position detected from a brake pedal position sensor 56, a vehicle speed from a vehicle speed sensor 58, information from a pressure sensor 59a described later and an acceleration sensor (not shown) that detects vehicle acceleration. A signal from 59 is input through the input port, and a control signal for switching control of the inverter 24 and the boost converter 32 and a control signal for driving control of the brake actuator 64 are output from the output port to output the entire vehicle. System It is.

  Further, in the electric vehicle 20 of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the power control unit and the brake master cylinder 62 housed in the case 40 from the front of the vehicle are sequentially arranged in front of the passenger compartment, and the rear of the case 40. Is provided with a pressure sensor 59 a as a part of the collision detection unit 59. By providing the pressure sensor 59a behind the case 40 in this way, when the case 40 moves rearward due to a vehicle collision, a large pressure is input from the pressure sensor 59a and the collision detection unit 59 A vehicle collision will be detected.

  Next, the operation when the vehicle collides in the electric vehicle 20 of the first embodiment will be described. In the electric vehicle 20 of the first embodiment, when the collision detection unit 59 detects a vehicle collision based on information from the pressure sensor 59a or an acceleration sensor (not shown), the electronic control unit 50 detects the brake pedal 55 in the passenger compartment. However, the brake pedal 55 is dropped by drivingly controlling an actuator (not shown) so as to be released in a direction in which the driver can step on. As an actuator for removing the brake pedal 55, for example, an attachment of a bracket (not shown) for fixing the brake pedal 55 and the vehicle body may be released and the brake pedal 55 may be removed by gravity.

  In the electric vehicle 20 of the first embodiment, as described above, since the power control unit housed in the case 40 and the brake master cylinder 62 are respectively arranged in front of the passenger seat from the front of the vehicle, the vehicle collides. When the power control unit moves rearward of the vehicle, the case 40 and the brake master cylinder 62 may come into contact with each other and a force may act on the brake master cylinder 62 and the brake pedal 55. Here, when the vehicle collides, the driver often depresses the brake pedal 55. However, in the electric vehicle 20 according to the embodiment, the driver can depress the brake pedal 55 when a vehicle collision is detected. Since the vehicle is dropped so as to be disengaged in the direction, it is possible to suppress a force from being applied to the brake pedal 55 from the power control unit or the brake master cylinder 62 at the time of a vehicle collision, and the safety of the occupant can be further improved.

  According to the electric vehicle 20 of the first embodiment described above, the power control unit housed in the case 40 from the front of the vehicle and the brake master cylinder 62 are arranged in this order in front of the passenger compartment, and a vehicle collision is detected. Sometimes, the brake pedal 55 is dropped so that the brake pedal 55 can be released in a direction in which the driver can step on the brake pedal 55, so that a force acts on the brake pedal 55 from the power control unit or the brake master cylinder 62 when the vehicle collides. Can be suppressed, and the safety of passengers can be further increased.

  Next, an electric vehicle 20B according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The configuration of the electric vehicle 20B of the second embodiment is the same as that of the hybrid vehicle 20 of the first embodiment except that the moving direction conversion member 70 is provided in front of the passenger compartment. Therefore, in order to avoid redundant description, the hardware configuration of the hybrid vehicle 20B of the second embodiment is denoted by the same reference numeral as the hardware configuration of the hybrid vehicle 20 of the first embodiment, and the detailed description thereof is omitted. .

  In FIG. 3, the outline of the passenger compartment front of the electric vehicle 20B of 2nd Example is shown. In the electric vehicle 20B of the second embodiment, as shown in the figure, the power control unit housed in the case 40 and the brake master cylinder 62 are disposed in front of the passenger compartment in the order from the front of the vehicle, and the case 40 and the brake master cylinder 62 are arranged. A moving direction conversion member 70 having an inclination with respect to the traveling direction of the vehicle is attached between the two. The moving direction conversion member 70 is formed of a material having high rigidity such as iron, aluminum, or carbon, and is attached to the vehicle body by welding or fastening with bolts. In the second embodiment, the moving direction conversion member 70 is formed by connecting a member 70a having a relatively large angle with respect to the vehicle traveling direction and a member 70b having a relatively small angle.

  The operation when the vehicle collides in the electric vehicle 20B of the second embodiment configured as described above will be described. When the vehicle collides and the vehicle body is deformed and the power control unit moves to the rear of the vehicle, the case 40 housing the power control unit and the moving direction conversion member 70 come into contact with each other, so that the movement direction conversion member 70 and the case 40 are rearward of the vehicle Move to. Here, since the moving direction conversion member 70 is inclined with respect to the traveling direction of the vehicle, when the moving direction conversion member 70 moves rearward and contacts the brake master cylinder 62, the brake master cylinder 62 is The vehicle is moved in the vehicle lateral direction by receiving the force in the vehicle lateral direction from the movement direction conversion member 70. Moreover, since the moving direction converting member 70 of the embodiment is formed by connecting two members 70a and 70b having different inclinations as shown in FIG. 3, it is compared with that formed by one member. Thus, a large lateral force can be applied by the brake master cylinder 62. Thus, by providing the moving direction conversion member 70 between the case 40 and the brake master cylinder 62, even if the vehicle collides and the case 40 moves rearward, the brake master cylinder 62 moves in the vehicle lateral direction. The brake master cylinder 62 can be prevented from entering the passenger compartment, and the safety of the passenger can be further improved as compared with a case in which the moving direction conversion member 70 is not provided.

  According to the electric vehicle 20B of the second embodiment described above, the power control unit housed in the case 40 and the brake master cylinder 62 are arranged in this order from the front of the vehicle in front of the passenger compartment, and the case 40 and the brake master cylinder 62 are arranged. The movement direction conversion member 70 is provided so as to move the brake master cylinder 62 in the lateral direction of the vehicle as the case 40 moves when the case 40 moves rearward. The brake master cylinder 62 can be prevented from entering the passenger compartment as compared with those not including the above, and the safety of the passenger can be further improved.

  The correspondence between the main elements of the embodiment and the main elements of the invention described in the column of means for solving the problems will be described. In the embodiment, the motor 22 corresponds to the “electric motor”, the inverter 24 as the power control unit housed in the case 40, the boost converter 32, and the electronic control unit 50 correspond to the “drive circuit”, and the brake mechanism 60. Corresponds to a “brake mechanism”, and when a collision between an actuator (not shown) that drops the brake pedal 55 so that the brake pedal 55 is released in a direction in which the driver can step on the brake pedal 55 and a vehicle not shown is detected, The electronic control unit 50 that controls driving corresponds to “pedal drop-off means”. The movement direction conversion member 70 corresponds to “movement direction conversion means”.

  The correspondence between the main elements of the embodiment and the main elements of the invention described in the column of means for solving the problem is the same as that of the embodiment described in the column of means for solving the problem. Therefore, the elements of the invention described in the column of means for solving the problems are not limited. That is, the interpretation of the invention described in the column of means for solving the problems should be made based on the description of the column, and the examples are those of the invention described in the column of means for solving the problems. It is only a specific example.

  As mentioned above, although the form for implementing this invention was demonstrated using the Example, this invention is not limited at all to such an Example, In the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention, it is with various forms. Of course, it can be implemented.

  The present invention can be used in the automobile manufacturing industry.

  20 electric vehicle, 22 motor, 24 inverter, 26 differential gear, 28a, 28b drive wheel, 30 battery, 32 boost converter, 40 case, 50 electronic control unit, 51 shift lever, 52 shift position sensor, 53 accelerator pedal, 54 accelerator Pedal position sensor, 55 Brake pedal, 56 Brake pedal position sensor, 58 Vehicle speed sensor, 59 Collision detection unit, 59a Pressure sensor, 60 Brake mechanism, 62 Brake master cylinder, 64 Brake actuator 66a-66d Brake wheel cylinder, 70 Moving direction conversion Member, 70a, 70b Member.

Claims (2)

An electric motor capable of outputting driving power, a driving circuit housed in a case and used to drive the electric motor, and a brake mechanism capable of applying braking force to the vehicle at least when the driver depresses the brake pedal; A vehicle arranged in the order of at least a part of the driving circuit and the brake mechanism from the front of the vehicle in front of the passenger compartment,
Pedal removal means for removing the brake pedal so that the brake pedal is released in a direction in which the driver can step on the brake pedal when a vehicle collision is detected;
An automobile characterized by comprising: An electric motor capable of outputting driving power, a driving circuit housed in a case and used to drive the electric motor, and a brake mechanism capable of applying braking force to the vehicle at least when the driver depresses the brake pedal; A vehicle arranged in the order of at least a part of the driving circuit and the brake mechanism from the front of the vehicle in front of the passenger compartment,
Provided between the driving circuit and the brake mechanism, when the driving circuit moves rearward of the vehicle, at least a part of the brake mechanism positioned in front of the passenger compartment is moved along with the movement of the driving circuit. Moving direction changing means for moving the vehicle in the lateral direction;
An automobile characterized by comprising:

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